Quincy M.E. (1976–1983): Season 2, Episode 1 - Snake Eyes: Part 1 - full transcript

Do you know what we got here?

Forensic pathologists.

Doctors always think they're gonna
live through it, like we're in on a pass.

Are you scared?

The fact is someone is
out to get Rollie Dinehart.

Along with 1,500 others?

Could it be Legion fever?

[people clamoring]

I got it?

Now calm down.

You calm down.
You ain't got it. I got it.



I suppose the next thing
you're gonna tell us to do is strip.

Would be for your own good.

Come on. Behind the rope.

(Angie) ♪ I feel the earth
move under my feet ♪

♪ I feel the sky tumblin' down ♪

♪ I feel my heart
start to tremblin' ♪

♪ Whenever you're around ♪

♪ Oh, baby ♪

♪ When I see your face ♪

♪ Mellow as the month of May 3

♪ Oh, darlin' ♪

♪ [can't stand it
when you look at me ♪

♪ That way ♪

♪ I feel the earth
move under my feet ♪



♪ I feel the sky tumblin' down ♪

♪ I feel my heart
start to tremblin' ♪

♪ Whenever you're around ♪

♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪

♪ Ah, ah, ah, oh, yeah ♪

♪ I feel the earth
move under my feet ♪

♪ I feel the sky tumblin'
down, tumblin' down ♪

♪ I feel the earth ♪

[groaning] Oh, no.

♪ Tumblin' down ♪

Oh, no.

What's the matter?

Oh, I don't know.
Leo, I feel terrible.

But you've only done
only three numbers.

Listen, kid.

Go get Ronnie.

Tell him he's gonna go on. Now.

It just hit me out there.

[gasping]

It's hard to breathe.

What, are you here
on a junket or what?

Uh, actually, I'm
here with friends.

And lots of them, I hope.

Oh, Leo, Leo, Leo.

I'm sorry. It was
all of a sudden.

What happened to you? Did you
listen to one of your own records?

Go get drowned. I'm sick.

I feel so sorry for
those poor little germs

that have to stay
in the bed with you.

They'll be closer
than you'll ever get.

I'll bet she's got things
all over the microphone.

They cleared the dishes yet?

Ronnie, it was an emergency.

Yeah, well... Nobody
eats when I work.

Nobody eats, I say!

Nobody eats when I work!

Spit that out. I'm
comin' down there.

I'll take that stuff away.

You finished with
that? You are now, pal.

If there's anything in
your mouths, spit it out

because I'm takin' it all away.

Are you all right, honey?

(Ronnie) Hey, busboy, I
want to do this by myself.

[sighs]

[people laughing]

I can't breathe.

(Ronnie) Nobody
eats when I work.

Does this hotel have a doctor?

We have one on call, ma'am.

That's the quickest
way to the infirmary.

[people applauding]

Listen, I'm sorry about Angie,

that she had to
leave so quickly.

She wasn't feeling so
good. But I'll make up for it.

Well, how do you
like this place?

Is this class? Is this dynamite?

Other hotels get conventions,
you know what they get?

[audience laughing]
Plumbers, carpenters.

Do you know what we got here?

Forensic pathologists.

[audience laughing]

They give themselves a
whole name, didn't they?

You now what that is? Coroners.

Coroners. Those are the guys...

You always see
them in the movies,

they're sayin', "Mmm, man's
got a rope around his neck,

"a bullet in his head,
an ice pick in his ear...

I suspect foul play."

[audience laughing]

♪ J'[drums playing]

Are there any coroners here now?

None. I wonder where they are.

I wonder what they are doin'.

I hereby declare that this
convention is adjourned.

I want to close with some advice

given to me by Dr. Arvid Rieson.

I'll never forget it.

He said, "My son, remember.

"The dealer has to hit 16

"and stand on a soft 17.

"Insurance pays two-to-one,

but it's the worst bet
unless you've got blackjack."

Good night and good luck.

[people laughing]

There's a couple of guys
who went to play baccarat...

You ever play that?
You lose in French.

You don't even know how...

You don't even
know how it happens.

And it's Carmine and Angelo.

And they went over to a table
and the guy said, ”Bonsoir,”

[speaking French]

He says, "What
happened, Carmine?"

[falsetto] "I don't know.
He took the $200."

"What did you bet on?"

[falsetto] "Nothin'. I
was waitin' for change."

♪ J'[drums playing]

[audience laughing]

AI, I just sent a customer
down to the infirmary.

Looked a lot like
Angie. You know,

shakes and sweatin' like a hog.

Maybe it's something catching.

Has Dr. Pines shown up yet?

I called his house.
There was no answer.

Call his wife. She's
got a private line.

[gasping]

Nurse.

He started shaking and
he feels like he's burning up.

Would you put him in this bed.

I'll be with you
as soon as I can.

(Leslie) Hello?

Oh, hi, Leo.

No. No, he's not here.

Well, unless you've put
lights out on the golf course.

Well, he's either playing
tennis or he's over at the clinic.

I've never seen him
perspire so much.

[muttering]

Another one?

There are two more
on the way down.

Get us some
wheelchairs and help.

All right.

Easy now.

Well, well, look who
we got over here.

[people laughing]

(Ronnie) What happened?
Another subpoena?

You know who that
is? Rollie Dinehart.

I thought he was in jail.

I don't want to say
too much to that guy

because, uh, he is from Harvard.

[audience laughing]

Don't get mad, pal. We
all have our own business.

Ha, ha, want to buy
a set of hubcaps?

You wanna leave? We do
have business to take care of.

There's no rush.

I'm glad you think so.

(Ronnie) You don't
like sticks up noses?

It gets better, What's
with you, Frank?

You're going to
miss my big finish.

Dr. Pines? Listen.

Excuse me. How
are you doin', honey?

Oh, great.

Look, take the
odds off the nine,

press the others, and,
uh, double the hard ways.

Honey, I'm hungry.

Oh, we can eat any
time. I'm on a roll.

[people exclaiming]

Where did you
learn to play dice?

And don't tell me Bryn Mawr.

Oh, are you kidding?

I fly into Vegas,
Monte Carlo, Kingston.

You got to do something
in Aruba besides buy towels.

Watch it.

[people cheering]

Honey, really, I'm starving.

Honey, let me
teach you something.

When you're on a roll,
you press on, double up.

It's the only way
to beat the odds.

Yeah, but, honey, I'm...

Sir, don't bother the
customers, please.

Meet you back
at the coffee shop.

Coming through.

Coming through.

Come on, speed it up.
This guy is hardly breathing.

(officer) Out of my way,
guys. We're in a hurry.

(operator on PA system) Jim,
please report to your station,

Jim, please... How
many is that now?

17.

And the switchboard
is going crazy.

Something's gone crazy.

(operator) .., desk immediately.

Mr. Burke to the front desk...

Mr. Ringerman,

we only have four
beds and they are full.

And the switchboard says
there are six calls in for the doctor.

Oh, boy!

Well, Dr. Pines is on his way.

What's going on? I don't know.

They're droppin' like flies.

Hi, Doc. Hi, Leo.

I'll take you around the back.

The ambulance get here yet?

No. Mr. Ringerman didn't want no
ambulance. Not until you took over.

What does he think I do that
the County Hospital can't do?

Sounds like the flu to me,
at least over the phone.

Look, Doc, since we called,

a couple of more
have come down with it.

How many is a
couple of more, Leo?

The wheel goes one way.

A little white ball
spins the other way.

The ball falls into a
number that you bet on.

They change the wheel.

[people laughing]

You've been dynamite.
Don't want to say good night.

God love you. God bless you.

Treat every performer
wherever you see him

as graciously as you treated me,

you'll never see a bad show.

♪ J'[music playing]

[audience applauding]

[man whistling]

It's 148 over 110.

How is he?

103 degrees.

Up one in the last hour.

Doctor, have you noticed...

Skin rashes, swollen
tongues, discolored gums.

I'm gonna talk to Ringerman.

[woman chattering on PA system]

I told them to open up the
gym on the second floor.

The relaxation
room's got 20 cots.

We can't wait any longer.

We've got to get outside help.

Why?

Because I have no
equipment, no facilities,

one nurse, I don't like
the way she lookin'.

I've got to start workups,
upper respiratories,

GIs, even dermatologies.

Seven of these 12 people
have got facial rashes.

12?

That's right. Eight
more since I got here.

Well, what is it, some
kind of stomach flu?

Mr. Ringerman...

What is this "Mr. Ringerman"?

I'm sorry, AI. I get formal
when I'm scared out of my wits.

Why are you scared about?

I've never seen anything
like this in my life,

or heard or read about it.

The symptoms are flying
at me from all directions.

As plain as I can put it,
I'm way over my head here.

Yeah, the minute we
call in an ambulance,

the County gets in
on it, then the State.

I don't see what else we can do.

Well, why don't you start thinking
about what else we can do?

This is me.

I gave your wife space
downstairs for that boutique.

She's getting rich
out of it. I'm not.

I didn't have to give
you this job, either.

I could've gotten some
kid out of medical school

for half what I'm paying you.

That fact is, Larry, you owe me.

And I'm calling in the debt.

There is one other
thing we might do.

What's that?

You got four or five men here,

top men in their field,
right here in town.

Couldn't ask for better.

Doctors?

We could try and get a hold
of them, see what they say.

[sighs]

Thanks, Larry.

Now you're helping a friend,
the way a friend helped you.

I'll tell you something, though.

What?

You ought to go into politics.

[door closing]

[people chattering]

Oh, hi, honey.

Hi, how are you?

Sevened out, huh?

Honey, let me
teach you something.

When you're on a roll like that,

you have to grab
back some money.

I mean, you keep pressing
your bet, you keep doubling,

inevitably the odds have
to catch up to you. Huh?

Wow.

[chuckling]

Well, uh, thanks
for the dinner, Lee.

You ready to test your luck?

You ready to test yours?

Am I ready.

Hey, what time
is the plane back?

10:00 tomorrow morning.

It's possible.

[laughing]

How much did you
win all together?

I don't know exactly.

$1,188.

$1,188! Wow!

(woman on PA
system) Mr. DeGroot,

please come to the
casino cashier's office.

Mr. DeGroot?

You know him?

He's a doctor.

He was one of my eminent
colleagues this afternoon.

Mr. Quincy,

please come to the
casino cashier's office.

Wonder why they are
not saying "doctor"?

Ignore it.

As if you could ignore it.

Go ahead, honey.
I'll finish this.

I'll be back. Leave a good tip.

(operator on PA system) Mr. Maxwell,
please report to the front desk.

Someone waiting to see you.

Mr. Maxwell.

You have a message
for a Mr. Quincy?

Oh, wait. Just a minute.
I'll take care of this.

Uh, I'm Leo Burke,
the assistant manager.

Now, there is nothing
to worry about, Doctor.

Worry?

It's nothing important.
Merely routine.

What's routine?

Uh, what's happening.

What is happening?

I'm sure it's nothing at all.

Good. Then I can
get back to my friends.

No.

You have to come with me.

But I don't want
you to be alone.

Let me see if I've
got this straight.

I'm not to be upset? No.

But I can't go
back to my friends?

No.

I have to go along with you?

I think we understand
each other.

Good, but Who's on First?

Take the limit off?

[people chattering]

I got IVs coming from my clinic

so we can give them
some supportive treatment,

but my thinking on this is,

we might have another
Philadelphia all over again here.

The temperature is going
up, respiration labored.

Same as the other three.

All the same.

Now the closest major
hospital is in Reno, isn't it?

That's right.

Would you mind tellin' me
why they haven't been notified?

It's somewhat complicated.

You know, the dream of my life

is to spend a week
without hearing those words.

You see, the
owner of this hotel...

Save it. Just save it.

Where are the
rest of the patients?

Upstairs in the gym.

In the gym?

Yeah.

Dr. Pines, I'm Walter
DeGroot. This is Dr. Hansen.

How do you do?

How do you do?

Ah, seems like only yesterday.

Walter, Arnie.

Well, what have we got?

Well, we've got high temp,

facial mottling on seven
out of 12, nausea, chills.

Where are the... Where
are the rest of them?

Don't ask.

Any of the patients down
here have the mottling?

How are you feeling?

Tired.

Frank, I don't think this
guy is breathing anymore.

[beeping]

Doctor.

[grunts]

Clear his trachea.

100 milligrams IV thiopental.

Where is it?

In the cabinet. Come on.

[cardiograph flatlining]

That's it.

Okay.

It's ready.

[grunts]

[people chattering]

(Walter) Clear.

[cardiograph flatlining]

We're losing him. Clear.

Once again.

He's gone.

What do you mean, he's gone?

[cardiograph beeping]

Was there a gradual
drop in blood pressure?

No.

Anything unusual?

Nothing.

He... he just started internal
hemorrhaging, that's all.

Arnie, nothing?

No, Quincy.

What is happening here?

A man goes on vacation,
suddenly he dies.

We don't have a clue as to why.

He's number one.

If we don't get answers
soon, it soon could be 101!

Do you know if he was married?

Yes, he is. His wife brought
him in from the lounge.

He was... He was
the second patient.

Oh, my!

Oh, my!

How do you tell a woman
her husband is dead?

And tell her she has to
keep her grief to herself?

Why would you tell her that?

Walter,

we could have a
first-class panic in this hotel.

People find out, they'll be
jumping out the windows

until we discover
what we're dealing with.

Well, I suggest we... we perform
an autopsy right away. Come on.

Come on.

Walter, turn on the
tape machine, please.

The tape is on.

Body of a well-developed male.

48.

48 years of age.

Measuring 70 inches in length.

[people chattering]

This is no way to get
out of a box, Rollie.

This is the way to get into one.

Mind your business.

[man chattering]

That money was supposed
to buy us a hotel, Rollie.

(Quincy) Scalp hair is gray.

Eyes show clear sclerae.

Pupils dilated and equal,

measuring five millimeters each.

Nose unremarkable.

[sighs]

Every time I do once
of these, it hits me.

There ought to be more
you can say about a person

than "nose is unremarkable"
or "his hair is gray."

What do you see?

Well, uh, no obvious
external puncture marks.

No ecchymosis or lacerations

or other external
signs of trauma.

No clubbing of the fingers.

Hmm.

The nail beds are cyanotic.

Appendectomy scar in the right
lower quadrant which appears old.

All right, Doctor.
Let's go inside.

I thought maybe you
gentleman would...

No, no, no. He's your patient.

Why don't you take a walk
and get some fresh air?

Plenty of air in here. It's
air-conditioned. Don't you feel it?

(Larry) Left lung, 640.

Lower lobes nodular, mottled,
focally hemorrhagic and indurated.

Bronchial walls reddened.

Bronchi contain mucopus
material consistent with pneumonia.

[sighs]

What is it?

Well, whatever it
is, it's frightening.

Quincy?

I don't know.

I don't know what
we're going to tell him.

Who?

That doctor who thought

he had three of the most
knowledgeable pathologists in the country.

We tell him we got the
answers, if it is humanly possible.

Come on, fellas, admit it.

We're all thinking
the same thing.

Let's not jump to conclusions.

There are lots of possibilities.

Poison, viral or
parasitic infection.

It's endless.

Arnie?

I agree. They are
all possibilities.

What about the obvious?

Oh, well, it could be...

Oh, come on. Say
it, it's all on our lips.

Legion fever.

How long has it been?

Six months, nine, a year.

Half the country
has been working

on what happened at
that hotel in Philadelphia.

I don't know how
many people have died.

They are still arguing
about what it is.

Sorry, Doctors. One more.

(woman) She-She's going
to be all right, isn't she?

We'll do everything we can.

Well, it-it's just

some sort of flu, isn't it?

We don't know yet.

The bed against
the wall, fellas.

Are all these people sick, too?

Yeah.

With the same kind
of thing that Ellen has?

Mmm-hmm.

Well, if they are
all from the hotel,

that means they've
got the same kind of flu.

I want to stay with her.

Well, it might be contagious.

Please.

Just for a little while.

Thank you.

Doctors, I don't
care who's right.

Poisoning, or viral infection,

or contamination,
or even Legion fever,

we have to go to work and
find the answers, and fast.

(Ringerman) So.

So, nothing.

We don't know what
we are looking at.

And we won't know until
we start doing some testing.

Now, do you want some good news?

It doesn't look like diphtheria, or
small pox, or the bubonic plague.

But I'll tell you something.

If it did look like any of those,
I wouldn't be talking to you.

I'd be on the phone to the
Disease Control Center in Atlanta.

Could it be Legion fever?

I don't know.

And I'd like to meet
the man who does.

All right, give me
another 60 seconds.

[sighs]

We've only been
open about a year.

My money people,
they're a conglomerate.

They don't know from gambling,

or show business,
or anything like that.

They make tissue
paper and acoustical tiles,

stuff like that. This is
an experiment for them.

You got 50 seconds left.

You think they are the
only money people around?

You think I haven't
been approached

by animals from the Combination

from the day I bid
in on this property?

I didn't want that.

I had 20 years of
that in other places.

The Gaming Commission
checked us out for six months.

We're spotless.

No tie-ins.

There's a future here.

I've got two kids.

Maybe this is
something to leave them.

I don't know. That's up to them.

The junkets are
starting to fly in here.

Big-name acts are
playing the place.

We're turning a corner.

Look, I don't want
anybody to die.

But I don't want this
place to die, either.

You put this place in the news,

you know what would be
left? The animals would be left.

And I'm telling you, I'll
let them in if I have to.

Is my time up?

Can you ensure isolation
in that clinic of yours?

Yes. I got good central supply,

and I can call nurses
in from Reno. Quietly.

You get my boss to say
okay, I'll go along with it.

Under certain conditions.

Name 'em.

You call every guest in here

and get the names of
their personal physicians.

And tell them it's, uh, an
insurance company survey,

anything you want,
but don't panic.

Any information we get we'll
have to send to those doctors.

Your doctor is going to tell
you to help keep this quiet.

I only listen to my bosses
when they are right.

The bedrock here
is that I'm a doctor.

I don't give a damn about
your hotel, or your license,

or the gangsters you are
trying to keep outta here.

I want a lid on this for
my reason, not yours.

If the guests find out,

they'll be racing out of here
for every corner of the country.

If we let that happen, we could
have an epidemic everywhere.

Now we have 24 hours, maybe,

to find out what we have
and whether we can contain it.

No guest leaves this hotel
without a medical examination.

Dr. Quincy,

how do you propose I keep
the guests from checking out

who want to go to their
families, their own lives?

What do we do, lock them up?

No, we don't lock 'em up.

We very quietly insist
on a medical checkup.

Won't that alarm them?

We don't have any choice.

We'll tell them

we are checking for an outbreak
of the mumps or wingback flu.

Quincy, what in the
world is wingback flu?

I don't know, Walter.
Just made it up.

You got a deal.

Sold.

That's the easy part.

Now comes the tough one.

For the next week,

you're going to take the
biggest bath of your life.

Not another guest
checks into this hotel.

You made a mistake, you're
overbooked, you're sorry.

Tell 'em whatever you want.

But I don't want another human
being exposed to whatever it is.

That's three junkets
I got to cancel.

It's three now or
all of them later.

60 seconds were
up a long time ago.

All right, all right. I'll
start makin' the calls.

[sighs]

♪ Evenin' rolls around,
it's time to go to town ♪

♪ Wake up to rock 'n roll ♪

Hey, Rome, you're supposed
to have $300,000 in cash.

All you had to do was
pick it up in one place

and put it down here, right?

Yeah.

How much did you lose?

As they say, a goodly sum.

How much, Rome“?

$250,000.

$250,000.

What are you, bananas?

Do I have to tell you
what Maurie's gonna say?

I'm gonna win it back.

♪ Job in the city ♪

♪ Workin' for the man
every night and day ♪

Now, ladies and gentlemen,
we've overbooked the hotel.

It's our responsibility,
but don't worry. Please.

We'll guarantee you, each and
every one of you we'll find you a room.

Well, he's living up
to his end of the deal.

You satisfied?

So far.

I still wish you hadn't come.

Honey, are you scared?

I have to get
back to the clinic.

Walk me to the car, honey.

[people chattering]

Come on.

Over here.

That's fine. Just fine. Okay.

All right. Now, listen.

There's two more after this and
that will be the last trip. Okay?

Okay.

Do it as fast as you can.

And, listen. No lights
and remember, no sirens.

[intercom buzzing]

Yes.

(receptionist on intercom)
Dr. Quincy on line two.

Quincy, I've been
looking for you.

Astin, I ran into
quite a problem.

Look. Don't tell me about
that car of yours again.

We're shorthanded
as hell today as it is.

Astin, I'm not talking about my
car. Now this is really serious.

(Astin) Look, Quincy,

it's a bad connection.
I can't hear you.

Where are you? In
some gas station?

No, I'm not in a gas station. I'm
in a hotel room in Lake Tahoe.

You're still in Lake Tahoe?

Do you realize that you were
due back here an hour ago?

If you'll give a
chance to explain...

Explain?

I am in the middle
of an avalanche here

trying to bring a
modicum of order

into what is laughingly
called written reports,

while you and your class of '65

are having a wonderful time.

Astin, I've got two
dead people here.

Dead people?

That's right. I've got
two dead people here.

I've got patients getting
sicker by the minute.

I've promised these people
the use of our facilities.

Are you crazy?

Ship bodies from
Lake Tahoe? Qui...

Quincy, are you drunk?

No, I am not drunk.

All I promised them was the
use of our laboratory facilities.

Oh, really? And where
did you get this authority?

I got this authority from
being a human being

that wants to help
another human being.

Well, listen, Quincy, I
need some help, too.

Look, I had a meeting yesterday.

The Board wants to cut
our budget by one-third.

Astin, look, I
can't go into detail.

But I guarantee you,

that if we can make a
major breakthrough here,

if we could prevent anyone else
from dying, you will become a hero.

You will be able to
triple your budget.

What are talking about?
W-W-What is this?

How many patients
have you got there?

I can't talk about
it over the phone.

Is it food poisoning?

I don't know.

Well, is this some
sort of virus infection?

I don't know.

Will you give me
a straight answer?

Now what is it? An epidemic?

I mean, my, God, you're
talking as if it's Legion fever or...

Is that what you're saying?

I can't talk about
it over the phone.

That is what you are saying.

I'm saying if we make
a breakthrough here,

if we could find out what is
causing these people to die,

well, the Board couldn't turn
you down then, could they?

You're right.

Quincy,

you stay down there and
you save all those people.

I'll stay here and
clear the decks.

You have my full cooperation.

Thank you, Astin.

Quincy? Yeah?

Don't be wrong.

I knew I could count on you.

Uh, Jerry, this is Dr. Astin.

Um, about those, uh, budget cuts

that you boys are
organizing down there,

I thought you might
interested to know

that our department is
on the verge of solving

a major medical catastrophe.

[people chattering]

I don't understand.

Look, we're going
to miss our flight.

One minute, please.

(operator on PA system)
Mr. Robinson, please go to the front desk.

Mr. Robinson.

Mr. Robinson, please
go to the front desk.

Mr. Robinson.

Miss Randall, Miss Harris, I
hope you enjoyed your stay.

Uh, any problems?

What kind of a form
is this you gave us?

A medical check out?

Oh, it's just a new procedure
we're having to follow.

Purely a formality.

So we have to go up to
Room 227 and fill out a form.

No, be examined.

(both) What?

By a doctor.

You see, uh, we live in
an agricultural community.

And this is just a new
regulation we have to follow.

Purely a formality.

What kind of... Oh,
never mind that now.

We're going to miss our flight.

So we go up to Room 227?

Is that your infirmary?

No. It's a guest room,

with a doctor.

Wonderful.

Thank you for coming
for your examination.

I'm sorry. I don't know
what this is all about.

You don't have to.

Believe me, sir, you
are in good shape.

You know, this is the first time

I've had a medical
examination in a hotel room.

Well, I hope I didn't
disappoint you.

As long as I'm
talking to a doctor,

I keep getting
these headaches...

Well, take two aspirins, call
your doctor in the morning. Okay?

Thank you, doctor.

[telephone rings]

Hello.

(operator on phone) We are
sending up two more guests.

I'm not seeing any more people.

Send them to see
Dr. DeGroot, will you?

But they are already
on their way up.

Okay, I'll see these two.

But, I'm very busy. I
have a lot of things to do.

Make sure that everyone
else sees Dr. DeGroot.

Right, Okay. Thank you. Bye-bye.

[knocking on door]

Hi, girls. Come on
in. Come on, come on.

I've been expecting you.

Well, excuse me.

♪ J'[whistling]

I understand we are supposed
to be checked out by you

before we leave the hotel?

That's right.

Look, we've got
a flight to catch.

Well, I'll check you as fast
as I can, get you out of here.

Checked out for what?
What is this all about?

Well, it is kind of
difficult to explain.

I suggest you take a stab at it.

We've been coming to
this hotel for six months.

Since when do you need a medical
examination to check out of a hotel?

Well, you see, you
could be a carrier.

Carrier?

What do you mean?

Hey, I've been going with the
same guy for four and a half years.

Oh, I didn't mean
that kind of carrier.

Are you the house doctor?

No. I'm just a guest here.

Come on.

Oh, listen, please. The
reason it's difficult to explain is...

Well, I'm not allowed to tell you
exactly what led up to this moment.

Well, we'll settle
for what it's all about.

I'm afraid I'm not allowed
to tell you that, either.

I suppose the next thing
you're gonna tell us to do is strip.

Would be for your own good.

It always is. Come
on. Let's get out of here.

Girls, look, look. I know it seems
odd, I know it seems bizarre.

But we're all operating
under adverse conditions.

I promise you won't get two
feet beyond the front door

without the security guard stopping
you and bringing you back up here.

It's not a fake.
See, I am a doctor.

You're a coroner.

Come on, we may
a look a little tired,

[knocking on door]
but we're not dead yet.

Well, excuse me.

Oh, nurse, ready
the table, please.

Take off your clothes, girls.

What do you suppose
he thinks we've got?

Don't worry about it.
He's going to find out.

(Quincy) I don't believe it.

Listen, I examined you so that
you could still catch the 10:00 flight.

I canceled.

Why?

You might need me.

We're not running
a Mardi Gras here.

There's something
killing people!

It's not a thing.

You're going
about this all wrong.

I personally happen to think

it has got nothing to
do with no disease.

Rollie Dinehart, do
you know who he is?

Oh, yeah. Look, I got to get...

Do you know?

Yeah. He's supposed
to be a mob guy.

[snickering] Supposed to?

All right, Danny.

I know you're a great
authority on organized crime.

The fact is someone is
out to get Rollie Dinehart.

Along with 1,500 others?

Why, you think they care?

I happen to operate
two clubs back east

in very questionable
neighborhoods. I have sources.

Ah. He's got sources. Here?

Danny, huh, you're over 21.

I can't tell you where
to go or what to do.

But I want you to remember
something if you stay here.

Ringerman and I have a deal.

There is not to be
a whisper to anyone

that there is the possibility
of a contagious disease here.

Now, I mean not a whisper.

Shh.

Sources on the scene at the
Nomad Hotel in south Lake Tahoe

have reported an outbreak
of what could be Legion fever.

Although there is
no accurate report

on how many patrons
have been stricken,

at least 10 have been moved
to a nearby private clinic

operated by Lawrence Pines,

the Nomad Hotel's
house physician.

One of the 10 is Grammy-Award
winning singer Angie Coy,

who was performing in the
main showroom at the hotel,

[people clamoring]

(policeman) All
right, stay calm.

Everybody has got
to stay calm. Come on!

[brakes squealing]

Hey, hey! Come on.
Give me a hand. Come on!

Back behind the ropes.

Anybody see 'em?

AI, it's been on television.

Turn the damn things off.
There's a central switch.

AI, they know. It
was on in the bar.

They know now.

That lousy, no-good forensic...

[people clamoring]

Ladies and gentlemen, please.

Please may I have
your attention?

Please be quiet. Calm down. Please
may I speak to you? I'm a doctor.

Now, look. I don't
know what you've heard.

And I know, you're
only interested in

getting out that front
door, and I don't blame you.

But please, please,
don't leave here

until we've checked you over.

It's very important.

Now, we're setting
up an examining room.

Now, all we wanna do
is take your temperature,

check your blood pressure
and take a look at your skin.

It'll only take a few
minutes, I promise you.

Now, believe me, they are
very, very important minutes

for you and for us.

[people murmuring]

(policeman) Come on,
let's hold it back here.

Come on! Behind the rope.

Hey, Tony, give
me a hand, will you?

Get back here. Come
on. Behind the rope.

[people clamoring]

You can't leave the hotel, sir.

All guests have to be
examined by the doctor.

(man) To hell with the
doctors, I'm getting out of here!

[car doors slam]

No guests leave the hotel!

[engine starting]

(man) Get out of my way!

I'm taking you back
inside the hotel with me, sir.

Go on, shoot. I'm getting my
family out of this death trap.

[tires screeching]

(policeman) Stay calm!

[people chattering]

Are you crazy? This is
your life you're gambling with.

Huh, even when
you win, you lose.

That shouldn't have happened.

Death isn't discriminating.

Well, here's the
last of the cultures.

The rest are already
loaded in the wagon.

Where's Pines?

When the child
died, he broke down.

[sighing]

I guess country-club doctors

aren't used to looking at death.

Especially that kind.

I'll get these
down to the airport.

It isn't right.

That child's body should
be telling me something.

It should tell me why
that young life ended.

But there's nothing.

Now, you guys know that nature
never brings you to a dead end.

She always leaves loose ends.

Only man brings
it to a dead end.

I can't help feeling that man's
hand is here somewhere.

You're not talking about murder?

I'm not? Huh.

Is this based on medicine?

It's based on instinct.

[elevator door opening]

Instinct that comes with living
with death for a lot of years.

I'm sorry. But I can't
let you come aboard.

I can't come aboard!

What are you talking about?
It's in my contract budget.

Private jet, to and from LA.

You brought me up here! Do you
remember... Do you remember me?

Yes, sir. I most certainly
do remember you.

But the fact is I have orders from
Mr. Ringerman to hold this plane

for the exclusive use
of somebody else's.

For who and for when?

For whenever he wants
it. For a Dr. Quincy.

A doctor? It's too
late for doctors.

They got dead people back there.

Do you understand
that people are dead?

There's a plague of some kind.

I should've got out of here
as soon as Angie got it.

All I know is if I had an
airplane and I could fly,

I'd belong out of here.

Yeah, well, it's a
little more complicated

when you have a job to do.

[plane engine droning]

A whole world full of
pilots, I got a space cadet.

Well, what branch of
the service were you in?

I... I mean, you've got an
attitude like you was in the service.

Would money sway you?

I mean, money's been
known to sway me.

It swayed me to come to
this monastery for three weeks.

Monasteries,
branches of service?

You guys walk on anything
just for a cheap laugh, won't you?

Are you sore about somethin'?

What... what do you... What
do you do you want from me?

You Hardee? (Hardee) Yes, Sir.

All this goes on the plane.

Hey, why are they so cold?

Don't worry about that.
They're packed in ice.

Now, when you get to L.A.,

I want you to land at the
Western Freight Terminal.

A medical technician will be
waiting for you, Sam Fujiyama.

He's been briefed. He
knows exactly what to do.

He'll take these
specimens off your hands.

You're not to give them to anybody
else. Get back as fast as you can.

Great.

Hi. Hey, I... I'm
Ronnie Fletcher.

Oh, yeah, I recognize you.

Oh, hey, how many
people are dead now?

Three.

Three?

Uh, you mean to tell me
that with three dead people,

you still don't know
what's wrong with 'em?

That's what I mean to tell you.

Uh, would you tell him
it's okay for me to go?

Well, I didn't check you over.

I got a doctor, Roy Lautenstein.

I know Roy. He's very
good, but he's in Beverly Hills.

We don't want you flying out of
here with anything communicable.

You're not packed in ice.

I said, tell him I can go.

That's when you
seem to stop listening.

You have no authority.

Take it up with him.

I'm gonna take it up
with you. Who are you?

You know, Roy Lautenstein is
the head of your organization.

And I can make you
more trouble in 10 minutes

than you could
smooth out in a year.

You know how many
benefits I do for doctors...

You don't do benefits for doctors,
Mr. Fletcher. You do them for patients.

And what kind of trouble
are you gonna get me in?

Is that why you do benefits?

So you can get on any
plane, any time you want,

even if it means it
might kill somebody?

Do me a favor, Mr. Fletcher.
Don't do any more benefits.

We'll try to struggle
along without you.

You, take off!

Mr. Fletcher, I'll
make a deal with you.

You promise not to talk to me,
I'll give you a lift back to the hotel.

It's either me or
the state police.

[car door slamming]

[car engine
starting] Oh, hold it!

(policeman) You
gotta cooperate with us.

[people clamoring]

Mr. Ringerman, the guests
are all fleeing the hotel.

We can't keep them back,
they're trampling our men to death.

All right. All right.

We're doing our best to
keep them inside the hotel.

But you can see it's impossible.

There are a dozen
exits from this place.

We haven't got enough men.

I didn't know whether to
call the Sheriff's office or not.

I'm worried about people
getting hurt in that mob.

We've already had to
take a couple of guests

to the infirmary who were
thrown aside or knocked down.

There's just no way
to control this crowd.

Not unless we get some help.

You know, none of the boys
have had to use their guns, yet.

That money was supposed to
put us in the hotel business, Rollie.

Still gonna put us in the
hotel business. Relax, will you?

I'm gonna have to
make a phone call, Rollie.

Do that. Go make
your phone call.

Look, I'm out $270,000. I
have $30,000 left to play.

You're out $280,000.

[sighing]

It was nice knowing you, Rollie.

Frank Mason.

Why? I did everything you asked.

Why did you do this to me?

Do what?

Put that story out.

I didn't put out any story.

I heard it on the radio
at the clinic myself.

How long do you think you
can keep a thing like this quiet?

A sick patient's
wife tells a cousin,

a nurse tells her boyfriend.

What happens now?
You gonna stay in charge?

I'm gonna stay, but right
now the illness is in charge.

[sighing]

Hey, this is his idea.

Look, I gotta get out of
here. I got commitments.

Mr. Fletcher, would you please
resume your place in line?

Look, I'm being so nice,

I'm behaving so good, I
don't even recognize myself.

Let me help out. Give me the
thermometer. I'll do it myself, okay?

Come here a second, will you?

Look, I know that
you got problems

and we got off
on the wrong foot.

Look, I want you to find the
security guard at the front entrance.

Now you're talking.

Tell him to get you to the
clinic as quickly as possible.

Dr. Pines will take
over from there.

The clinic?

The best place
for you is in bed.

Have I got it?

It looks that way.

[shouting] I got it?

Now calm down.

You calm down!
You ain't got it! I got it!

A security guard? I
need an ambulance!

I get an ambulance! Ambulance!
Get me an ambulance!

Look out, will you? Ambulance!

[people exclaiming]

Ambulance!

[sighing]

You're in a bad way, Rollie.
I'm gonna call a doctor.

What about your call?

I haven't made it yet.

[panting]

I ain't breathing
any... any too terrific.

[birds chirping]

Why do you all stay here?

Every doctor in the state
will be here pretty soon.

What's the point of leaving?

As long as you don't
want to close it out.

Rollie Dinehart.

The winds get pretty high
around here, don't they?

Oh, they can.

Is there any metal mining
going on in this district,

like antimony or nickel?

The only thing I can
think of is a silver mine,

but that's 100 miles away. Why?

Just a possibility.

I was thinking of a strong wind
blowing some chemical dust

into the air-conditioning.

No chance. This
building's self-contained.

Is that the main duct?

Uh-huh.

Show it to me.

Sure.

If you're planning a tour,
doc, maybe I better go.

Just tell me what
you're looking for.

Oh, that's the zinger,
Jerry. I really don't know.

But when I find it, I will know
and you won't. So I better go alone.

Well, you're gonna need this

and this.

Thank you.

I'll wait for you.

[whirring]

[drum beating]

(Danny) Now,
remember, I'm a little rusty.

(Stormy) Oh, come on. Go on.

Well, good evening,
ladies and germs.

[laughing]

On behalf of the Nomad Hotel,

and I'd like to be half
of the Nomad Hotel,

we welcome you.

Now, you'll have to excuse
me if I'm a little punchy.

I just flew in from Miami
and my arms are tired.

[drum beating]

[cymbals crashing]

You think I look tired,
you should see my wife.

She can hardly
keep her mouth open.

[drumbeat]

You still winning?

Have you seen Danny?

Speaking of Danny...

Would you guard this,
please? Come here.

You're gonna love this.
Wait till you hear. Come here.

(Danny) I'd like to
close this evening

with a tender little
ballad entitled:

I'll Meet You In The Spring If!
Can Get Through The Mattress,

[Stormy laughing]

Oh, you missed it.
He was dynamite!

I used to finish up
with Senza Mamma,

Not a dry eye in the house.

I'll Meet You In The Spring If!
Can Get Through The Mattress?

Fletcher pulls down five figures
a week with the same material.

[chuckling]

Oh, uh, what, uh,
what's happening?

Hmm. You're the
one with the sources.

You're supposed to let me know.

You'll nose around, right? Yeah.

The people supposed
to know something,

they don't know nothing.

Sounds like Ol' Man River,

They don't know nothing. That
means the mob is not involved.

I guarantee you.

So, anyway, I'm taking
the noon plane back.

There's nothing
more I can do here.

Oh, good work. Good work. Yeah.

How about your end?

My end is waiting for
the Fujiyama report.

That's okay.

Thank you.

Excuse me. Mrs. Pines?

That's right.

I'm Dr. Quincy. I've been
working with your husband.

Oh, yes, he's mentioned you.

You know, it's quite an
honor for a... a doctor like Larry

to work with someone
of your stature.

Well, believe me, Dr. Pines
has been invaluable to us.

I don't know what we'd have done

without his help and dedication.

Oh, that's quite
charitable of you, Doctor.

Excuse me.

Do you have any
idea where he is?

Have you tried, uh,
the country club?

The country club?

Mrs. Pines, has he told you

we're in the middle of a crisis?

And he's a great doctor.
He's a brilliant surgeon.

Well, please forgive me,
but I don't get the chance

to observe day-by-day brilliance

treating tennis elbows
and arthritic old ladies.

I hate to see talent
like that go to waste.

Oh, you get used to it.

Oh, Dr. Quincy.

You looking for me?

No.

No, I'm having
lunch with Mrs. Pines.

I'm thinking about
expanding the boutique.

Well, I'm glad to see
you're a lot more optimistic

about saving your hotel.

Would you tell Dr. Pines
I'll be at the clinic, please?

Yes, I will.

Mr. Dinehart, I'm Dr. Quincy.

So?

How are you feeling?

I'm not sweating as much.

That's a good sign.

May I ask you something?

Depends.

Are you in any kind of trouble?

[chuckling]

Hey, doc, I'm supposed
to ask you that.

No, no. I don't mean medically.

I was told I'd be barking
up the wrong tree,

but I had to check
out every possibility.

The people that you know,
that you're connected with,

are they trying to
lean on the hotel?

Would they be as crazy
as to foul up the food,

or the air-conditioning
or something like that?

If they would,
whoever they were,

I wouldn't tell you.

What are you, writing a book?

Hey, doc, all I've ever been

is maybe a three-part
magazine article.

It's never been
enough to fill a book.

Now leave me alone, will you?

You Pines?

I'm Pines.

I'm Dr. Michaels of Nevada
Disease Control Center.

Six doctors and eight nurses
are on their way down here.

Should be here any time.

Nothing.

That's a match. Nothing
on my end, either.

We've got relief, Walter.

Oh, yeah. I heard him.

(Sam) And negative all
the way down the line.

No bacteria, no rickettsia.

Preliminary is all we've
got on the egg culture,

but it doesn't
look viral, either.

A real el blanko.

Any sign of botulism or
anything in that neighborhood?

No,

How about metallic
poisoning through an inhalant?

No levels above normal.

And according to
what we've got so far,

there's absolutely
nothing wrong with them.

Maybe somebody put
a curse on the hotel.

There speaks a true scientist.

[chuckling]

I'll talk to you later, Sam.

My lab says negative.

The dust I collected, negative.

The EKGs, the x-rays,

the potassium and
sodium levels are normal.

Anything on the food yet?

So far, nothing.

Maybe there is a curse.

[typewriter clacking]

All my life I've been
looking for somebody

who types worse than I do.

Uh, it's a summary

of some of these
guys' developments.

I type better when I...

I take my time.

The lab came up empty.

That's what I heard.

No new case except for Fletcher.

Now, that's a puzzlement.

There's nothing different
in his workup, is there?

Not so far.

Well, back to whatever.

You're very
observant, aren't you?

What?

What bothers you most?

The books?

What are you talking about?

My books. Top two shelves
beat-up and dog-eared,

and the bottom two
in mint condition.

You're wondering why, right?

I'm not in the mood
to have my palm read.

I said observant,

not subtle.

You want to talk
about your books?

Okay, let's talk about them.

What are they there for?

Decoration or to
impress your patients?

You got it.

Harvard Medical.

Was Hoagland still heading

the Pathology department
when you were there?

Yeah. He was my professor.

[typewriter clacking]

Did you like him?

He made me angry.

He made me think. He was
the best teacher I ever saw.

What about Lasswell?

Hmm, Lasswell and I got along.

I'll bet you did,

once he saw you use a scalpel.

Yeah, but... Yeah, but what?

Know what you did for
four years at Harvard,

three years at Rhode
Island General?

You took up space.

You wasted Hoagland's time.
You wasted Lasswell's time.

They didn't think so.

They know what type
of a practice you have?

A patient is a patient.

Oh, what is that,
wisdom from the elders?

I know that a
patient is a patient.

Are you happy
treating tennis elbow,

gambler's stomach,

playing 18 holes every
day once the office is closed,

a... a chorus girl with a
chest cold every now and then

to put spice into your life?

What makes you
think I'm not happy?

Oh, if I thought you were happy,

I might even envy you.

As it is, there once
was a Larry Pines.

You put him on
hold nine years ago.

And it's sinful to
waste God-given talent.

Why are you trying
to drown yourself?

Maybe I had help. 50%
of medicine is politics.

Hoagland or no Hoagland,

there were a dozen
bureaucratic incompetents

between me and a meaningful
job in surgery or pathology.

I had better things to do

than spend five
of those nine years

sucking up to one
chief resident or another,

wheedling my way on staff

at a good enough hospital
with a big enough budget

so that this talent you
keep bellowing about

would have decent
equipment to work with.

As life goes, this is
good enough for me.

It's given my wife a
chance to fulfill herself.

Now, what's wrong with
that, or wouldn't you know?

Now, if you think you've
scolded the child sufficiently,

may he please be excused?

I didn't realize I
was bellowing.

I only do that when I think
something's important.

It's my mistake.

♪ Callin' out around the world ♪

♪ Are you ready for
a brand new beat?:

♪ Down in New Orleans 3

♪ In New York City ♪

Operator, I want to make a
credit-card call to Chicago.

♪ Sweet music ♪

♪ There'll be music everywhere ♪

♪ There'll be swingin'
swayin' And records playin ♪

♪ Dancin' in the street ♪

Hello, Mr. Stranton?

Uh, listen, we got a couple
of problems on this end.

Something is going on.

I mean, people are getting sick.

Uh, I don't know what
kind of sick. Just sick.

Well, I... I know it's not
your problem, but the thing is,

it's got Ringerman
worried. It could work for us.

Well, then, you will
be interested in this.

Rollie dumped the $300,000.

[sighing]

At the tables. I don't know,
he must have gone bananas.

Yeah.

Right here at Tahoe?

What do I use, an ice pick?

I'll do my best.

I'll get Ringerman to listen.

Yeah, thank... thank you.

You won't be disappointed.

♪ Gotta keep right on movin' ♪

♪ Every day and
every night job ♪

♪ You have to keep
right on movin' ♪

♪ Yeah, baby! ♪

Not related. Not
the death, that is.

But his sickness puts him in the
category with every patient we've got

along with the seven that died.

They all checked
in this past weekend.

Every single one of
them spent Saturday night

from 8:00 to 9:30
in the showroom.

It has to be food-related.

There's no has to be. That's
what they thought in Philadelphia.

Tell me about the food analysis.

Too much fat, too few proteins,

but nothing startling so far.

Distension of the stomach,

a lot of the gross changes
point toward poisoning.

Let me see that. How come
everybody else didn't get sick?

Even with food poisoning,
there's no unanimity.

People can be sitting
around the same table.

This was the dinner-show menu.

We've been through it all.

Well, we'll have to look
where there is a choice.

There's chicken and
roast beef. Figure 50-50.

I'm telling you, Quincy.

The trouble with
exotic poisons is

they're cleaned out
of the system too fast.

Tell me. Why did Fletcher get
sick a day after everybody else?

Haw?

I made the call, Rollie.

Eat? I... I never
eat before a show.

What about after?

Usually, but not last night.
I was so upset, you know,

because people were
walking out on my show...

What... what are you doing?

Go ahead. Keep telling.

People were walking out on my
show and Angie getting sick and all.

I didn't eat at all.

Do you remember the
next time you did eat?

Uh, yeah, just the next
day, you know, when they...

When this thing all
broke on the television.

Yeah, this time, I was eating
when it broke on television.

What... what are you doin'?

I am just going to deaden
the area, anesthetize it.

Uh, yeah? What were you eating?

Well, something
from the refrigerator.

Ow!

S-Soup, I guess.

Uh, uh, hey, Doc, my
foot is... I don't feel nothin'.

[chuckling] Well, it's
supposed to be dead.

Was the food from
the night before?

Oh, I guess so.

You see, my guy brings up
the food from the first show.

When he saw I didn't eat it,

he must have put
it in the refrigerator.

What are you gonna do now?

Well, I need a
piece of live bone.

Uh... uh, you need a what?

I need a piece of bone from
your hip. Just a little tiny piece.

Yeah, my... my
liver's not much bigger.

You gonna take a
piece of that, too?

You won't even feel it.
It'll be just like a little nick.

[grunting] Muggings have
been less than that, doc.

I'm gonna go in now
and take the bone.

You didn't get it?

Not gonna hurt you.

What did you do before
you became a doctor,

tusk remover on the safari?

It's all over. Okay.

Oh, oh, God, you're
worse than an agent.

Doc.

Thanks.

Oh.

Get Dr. Quincy.

Right here. What is it?

We've lost another one.

Dinehart? But he was improving.

(Walter) I know, I
thought we were starting to

get this thing under control.

There were no new deaths.

That's right.

Well, I guess we better
hold a postmortem.

That won't be necessary, Walter.

Excuse me for a minute.

Nurse, has anybody
been in this clinic

during the last
15 or 16 minutes,

besides yourself
and the doctors?

No one.

Dinehart had no visitors?

Oh, Mr. Bracken was
here but I turned him away.

I explained that the
patients were in isolation.

Did you see him leave?

Uh, no, I was called
away from the desk.

Anybody else here?

Just the patients.

Thank you, nurse.

Yeah, room service. I know,
but this is the mountains.

You guys don't know
anything about clams.

A little bread crumbs and
grated cheese. That's it.

What? Operator, get off
the line. I'm talking to room...

Who? An emergency call from...

Oh, Dr. Quincy.
Yeah, put him on.

Hi, Danny. Listen, I want
you to do something for me.

You name it, Doc, you got it.

Haw Bracken.

Oh, Doc, that's not a name

that's gonna sparkle
my enthusiasm.

Listen, I want you to
keep an eye on him for me.

I want you to go where
he goes, do what he does,

if he tries to leave
the hotel, call security.

Tell them he is sick, anything
you want. But keep him here.

And I want a full report on him.

Huh, that'll be fun. Do
you mind if I ask you why?

I'll tell you later. Bye-bye.

I wouldn't mind knowing
just in case I get my lumps.

[sighing]

That's good booze. Good booze.

Thanks very much.

You know with, uh,
with all this bad publicity,

by tomorrow we may
have to cut our offer in half.

I mean, I had to close down
that hotel in Philadelphia.

But what do you say?

Did you guys pull this?

Did you kill all these
people just to get my hotel?

Uh, let's just keep our
focus on the important issues.

[sighing]

We got a deal or not?

[sighing]

What's so important that it
couldn't wait until morning?

[sighing]

I'm selling the hotel.

You are what?

What choice do I have?

How many guests
will be coming here

even after this
epidemic dies down?

I'm getting mass
cancellations for months ahead.

Who are you
selling the hotel to?

Don't tell me.

Let me guess.

[sighing]

Well, just where
does that leave me?

Oh, I'm not worried about you.

You'll land on
your own two feet.

Or thereabouts.

(Leslie) Shaughnessy?

Come here, Shaughnessy.

Shaughnessy!

Larry! Larry!

It's Shaughnessy.

He's dead.

I don't understand. I mean,

he was frisking around
as usual this afternoon.

Holy! Feels like he's
been baking in an oven.

Larry, w-what's the matter?

Uh, he's got the symptoms.

[sighing]

What are you talking
about, the disease?

Did he have anything
to eat tonight?

No, he didn't even
touch his food.

And yesterday, did
he... Yesterday, my God!

I brought leftovers home
from the hotel kitchen.

They all assumed it was
contagious and infectious. I wonder...

Poor Shaughnessy.

None of this was his fault.

None of what?

Just skip it. What
do you have to do?

Autopsy.

Go on. Get dressed.

Where are you going to do it?

Same place I did the others.

Clinic.

What am I doing, going
into business for myself?

I've got to wake Quincy.

If I was sure he wouldn't
think I was a total idiot.

Larry,

you want to find it yourself
if it's there, don't you?

It's not a contest.

This is the most interested

I've seen you in
anything since...

Why didn't you tell me you
hated what... what you were doing?

Because I didn't.

Might have been
different if I'd known.

A lot of past tense
in that sentence.

Yes.

[door closing]

AI! Pines has been
looking for you everywhere.

He's back in the office now.

More bad news?

I don't know. He
won't tell me anything.

But he looked very excited.

[sighing]

(Larry) AI!

Wait. Wait.

What? I got it.

The disease?

No, the answer. It's not a
disease and it's not contagious.

You're off the hook.

What?

But, Larry, I just
sold the hotel.

♪ Whenever I'm with you ♪

♪ Something inside
starts burning ♪

♪ And I'm filled with
desire Oh, yeah ♪

♪ Could it be a devil in me ♪

♪ Or is this the way
love's supposed to be? ♪

♪ It's like a heatwave ♪

♪ It's burning in my heart ♪

♪ I can't keep from crying ♪

♪ It's tearing me apart ♪

♪ Whenever you call my name ♪

♪ So slow, sweet and plain ♪

♪ Right then, right there ♪

♪ I feel that burning pain ♪

♪ Has high blood pressure
got a hold on me? ♪

♪ Is this the way love's
supposed to be? ♪

♪ It's like a heatwave,
it's burning in my heart ♪

Ham Haw Bracken.

[laughing]

Danny. Danny.

You don't remember me.

I'm afraid not.

I ran a place in Detroit.

You used to come
in with Rollie Dinehart.

Danny's Place. You remember now?

No.

Well, we can't all be
celebrities. Bartender.

Two more of the
same over here, okay?

I'm at the Marina.

What?

I got a place at the Marina.

Oh, the Marina?

Yeah, you know, the Marina.

Yeah, I know the Marina.

Listen, I'm uh,

[clearing throat] sorry
to hear about your

friend getting sick, you
know, Rollie Dinehart.

Especially after
losing all that money

in 21. I, uh, dropped
back quite a bit myself.

Don't lose the Marina.

[chuckling] Don't
lose the Marina.

Uh, they told me he dumped
$50,000 in half an hour.

Yeah, when you lose,
you lose fast, you know.

I did know this was one of your
places, you know what I mean?

Beautiful. Beautiful, but empty.

It'll change.

[laughing]

Yeah, nice talking to you.

(Larry) I'm... I'm going
to try and say all this

in layman's language.

Basically,

the... the discovery
was accidental.

Last night, our pet Irish
setter died very suddenly.

When I checked him for symptoms,

I found the same symptoms
we've been tracking down here.

I had the facilities
in my clinic,

so I performed an autopsy
on Shaughnessy, the dog.

I don't know what
I was looking for.

I, uh, I was somewhat hesitant.

Dr. Quincy and the LA. lab had
eliminated all the basic poisons,

virus, bacteria and so on.

All that was left us
was exotic metals.

Well, there are over
200 tests for those.

I guess I got lucky.
I had fed my dog

some leftovers from
the hotel kitchen.

Some filleted chicken
and some dumplings.

When I checked the list of human
victims and the common denominator

of when and where they'd eaten,

I narrowed it down
to the dumplings.

I broke into the hotel
kitchen and I got hold of

the, uh, the flour and
some baking soda.

It was in the baking soda.

Now, as to how it got there,

I also found, uh,
what I will have to call

basic commercial rat poison

in the same cabinet.

Its... its principal component
is barium carbonate.

Uh, the easiest explanation is
that some of it spilled on to the shelf.

It was mistaken for baking soda

and swept back into
the same container.

Barium chloride is
incredibly difficult to trace

unless you happen
to be looking for it.

But it's a poison that
causes all the symptoms

we've been trying to trace down.

And sure enough,

when I tested for it in the
substance I took from my dog,

it was there.

Barium carbonate in the
dumplings turned into barium chloride

when mixed with the stomach acid

and it became a deadly poison.

In other words, it's been
solved and you solved it.

Uh, it was solved a long time ago
when I had the great good fortune

of studying under Dr. Miles
Hoagland at Harvard.

He used to kick my
tail around the block

every time I forgot to
show too much curiosity.

Dr. Quincy, do
you feel upstaged?

I beg your pardon?

Sir, I said, do you
feel upstaged?

Oh, yes, and I'm delighted.

I'm sure Dr. Hoagland
would be, too.

(Danny) Quincy, wait up.

I got to revise
my earlier opinion.

About what?

About the organization.

You should pardon
the expression.

They're trying to
take over this hotel.

Listen, I just had an
interesting conversation

with one of Rollie
Dinehart's associates.

Haw Bracken.

He and I got very cozy
over the whole situation.

People in this
hotel start to die,

it's bad for business.

The organization moves in,

saves Ringerman
from sudden collapse.

And maybe they lose a rat

who owes them
$300,000 in the process.

Emma“? Fight.

That's pretty far
out, ain't it, Danny?

It's working, trust me.

(woman on PA system)
Mr. Caldwell, telephone call.

Mr. Caldwell, please.

What mom is Haw Bracken 'm'?

Oh, Dr. Quincy,
yeah, he's in, uh, 604.

Thank you.

But I just called up with a
message and Mr. Bracken was out.

Do you have any
idea where he is?

No, none at all.

♪ J'[music playing]

Do you know a Mr. Bracken?

Thank you.

So what's the difference?

Mr. Bracken.

No problem. I'll
talk to you later.

I'm Dr. Quincy.

I think it's about time you
and I had a little talk, don't you?

What about? I ain't sick.

Well, then, why don't we
talk about your old friend,

the late Rollie Dinehart.

Oh, yeah, that was a real shame.

I understand you
were in the clinic

a couple of minutes
before it happened.

So? I came to
visit an old friend.

I know you killed him.
I want to know why.

Hey, look, Dr. Quincy,

Rollie died just like
everybody else in this hotel.

Uh, respiratory failure,
isn't that what you call it?

You can't prove
anything different.

You a betting man?

You're bluffing.

I'll show you my hole card if
you answer a few questions.

Go ahead. Ask a few questions.

Were you sent here to kill
Dinehart, or get this hotel, or both?

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about all the
people here who were poisoned.

You think we were
behind all that?

You got to be crazy.

Besides, didn't you hear, they
said that was food poisoning.

Accidental.

Maybe.

Doctor, we're businessmen.

We don't go around
poisoning people.

But I got to tell you,

when people started
dying, it was a blessing.

Suddenly, we were
back in the ballpark.

Ringerman has to deal.
His back is against the wall.

We're like the Mounties.

We always get our man.

You know, Mr. Bracken,
I believe you.

I don't think anybody
else will. But I believe you.

I don't think the gaming
commission is going to believe you.

I guarantee you guys
aren't gonna get this hotel.

One more thing, in
case you didn't know it,

forensic medicine
is an exact science.

When you smother someone,

you leave teeth
indentations on the upper lip.

And since we can
place you at the scene

of the homicide minutes
before it happened,

I think the D.A. has a
pretty good case, don't you?

Ta.

(Sam) I know it's,
uh, anticlimactic

but the bone-ashing
shows barium.

Was it ingested?

Definitely,

Turned into barium chloride
when it mixed with the stomach acid.

Is there a sign of
any other poison?

We tested for everything.

I'd give the young
doctor a cigar.

Word's out, huh?

Yeah.

They even interrupted
the football game.

That figures.

Anything wrong, Quince?

No, no, no, Sam, just
tired, that's all. Just tired.

[chuckling]

Well, are you heading home

or are you gonna make
your fortune at the tables?

[chuckling]

Uh, they're all waiting for
me back at Larry Pines' place.

He's gonna take us
to the airport by boat.

Want to check
out something first.

It's all over, friend. What
are you trying to prove?

That Lee is right. That
I'm a hopeless paranoid.

Yeah.

Bye-bye, Sam. Bye-bye.

[sighing]

Hey, hon, is this
all their luggage?

Yeah, I think so.

Okay, I'm loading
it in the boat.

How about a little
refreshment before you go?

Hmm. Thank you.

Hmm?

It's straight.

[chuckling] I'm sorry.
We're out of vodka.

Thanks.

Do me a favor.

What's that?

Hurry right back.

Okay.

We got lots to talk about.

Like what?

Oh, like, uh, you, me,

getting away from here.

Medical research?
Mmm-hmm, and our future.

I like the agenda.

I'll set a record getting
across the lake and back.

Hurry back. Quick. Quick.

(Larry) Hey. How's it going?

Great. Got everything mopped up?

Yeah. Dr. Michaels
went back home.

A couple of days, your clinic
will be nice and quiet again.

Yeah.

It's always a big letdown
after a tough case is cracked.

[chuckling]

Strange,

you don't seem let down.

We beat them, didn't we?

When was it, Larry?

Exactly when did
you know it was over

and you'd have to make a move?

Was it when I took
the bone sample?

You knew I'd hear from
my lab within 48 hours

and know the truth.

Truth? What truth?

Was that when you decided
you'd have to poison your dog?

Poison my dog? Shaughnessy?
You know I loved that animal.

That's why it was so hard for me

to believe what
was there to be seen.

But you really wanted
to wait, didn't you?

Wait until we threw our hands up

like they did in Philadelphia.

That would've been
a lot more dramatic.

A town full of pathologists.
All of us stumped.

[snickering]

And there you are,
the hero, the savior.

You know what you're saying?

Oh, yeah.

I poisoned all those people?

And killed seven of them.

[sighing]

Politics never change.

I get a little bit lucky,

I find out I'm stepping
all over people's egos.

You really did feel
upstaged, didn't you?

Oh, cut it out! Will you
stop playing games, Larry?

Stop playing games!

[sighing]

[clicking tongue] Impossible.

Too bad. I honestly
thought of us as friends.

I don't understand
this kind of jealousy.

[sighing] I never
did. You of all people.

(Quincy) You're gonna want
to hear what I have to say.

I always felt that man's
hand was here somewhere.

But I could never
believe it was yours.

I called Dr. Hoagland
at Harvard.

[birds chirping]

Well, what has that
got to do with anything?

Probably doesn't remember me,
anyway. One of his lesser triumphs.

Oh, he remembers
you all right, Doctor.

And don't minimize your triumph.

A brilliant young
student who diagnosed

that a child ate
barium carbonate.

When it mixed with
the acid in her stomach,

it became barium
chloride, a deadly poison.

He told you about that.

Saved the child's life.

What a wonderful beginning.

How do you go from
saving a child's life

to committing murder?

I performed a second
autopsy on Shaughnessy.

Ah, you know he
ate the dumplings.

Oh, he ate the poisoned
dumplings, all right.

But you had to make
sure that the poison

worked very fast.
Time was running out.

So you injected barium
directly into the bloodstream.

What is the point...

I found the needle track!

I turned the evidence
over to the police.

Why, Larry? Tell me that. Why?

My wife.

You wanted to get
back at Ringerman?

You knew he was
having an affair with her?

Who told you that?

Nobody had to tell me. I saw
the way she lit up around him.

I know she didn't have
a high opinion of you.

Well, she does now.

And that's why you
did it, Larry, isn't it?

You wanted to be that
brilliant doctor again,

the one she fell in love with.

You poisoned all those people

to recapture a moment.

No, no. Because
I needed her back.

I needed her back
more than life itself.

You don't know what it's like
to have the woman you love

think of you as some
kind of microscopic vermin.

And what is she
gonna think of you now,

now that you're a murderer?

I only thought it would
make a few people sick.

No matter what you think

I'm not a murderer.

Tell that to those
seven dead people.